Political Polarity Produces Rise of Single-Party Governance — Is That Good or Bad? [POLL]

OLYMPIA (AP) — Recent Democratic victories in New Jersey and Washington mean that two-thirds of all state governments now will be fully controlled by either Democrats or Republicans.

The percentage of states with single-party governance has risen significantly since reaching a low of 37 percent after the 1996 election. It's remained about 60 percent since Republicans swept into control of many capitols in 2010.

The last time there was such a sustained period of unified party government was during the post-World War II era.

Yet recent history shows that control of the governor's office and both legislative chambers hasn't always translated into success.

Some Republican or Democratic majorities have splintered between moderates and more hard-core ideologues.